Oregon confirms Don Pellum’s promotion to DC

As expected, Oregon has stayed in-house to fill its void at defensive coordinator.

UO announced in your standard-issue press release Tuesday that Don Pellum has been promoted to coordinator as the replacement for Nick Aliotti, who resigned following the 2013 season after 17 seasons.

“Don Pellum is a great teacher and one of the best communicators I have ever been around,” head coach Mark Helfrich said in a statement. “The entire defense will benefit from his demanding preparation, with an emphasis on discipline and relentless effort.

“The cultural continuity is a bonus in elevating DP to a position of greater leadership and influence in our program.”

The 51-year-old Pellum played his college football for the Ducks and has spent 23 of the past 27 seasons as an assistant at UO. For the past 14 seasons, Pellum has been in charge of the linebackers.

“This is a challenge I welcome with open arms,” Pellum said. “I have been fortunate to enjoy a long relationship at an institution that means a lot to me as well as the luxury to work with a lot of class coaches and athletes. I certainly have benefitted from the knowledge handed down to me from numerous head coaches and coordinators but head into this next phase of my career anxious to implement ideas of my own.

“I am grateful to Coach Helfrich and the University of Oregon for the confidence they have bestowed upon me and am excited to add to the success this program has enjoyed.”